Where to: Huet Square in Medieval Sibiu, Old Europe

Huet Square is the spot from which medieval Sibiu bloomed during the Middle Ages, when Europe was expanding and bursting its banks (population-wise) spilling eastwards. Mignon, magical, legendary, discover with me Huet Square Sibiu, the essence of legends.

Huet Square is located in the heart of modern-day Sibiu. Let’s stroll around it.

Some of these buildings stand where the first wooden houses once stood, followed by the first wooden fortification of Sibiu. They surround and protect its heart: in the middle of Huet Square is the Evangelic Church.

Huet Square by night, although as bright as daylight!

The heart, the hearth, and the promise of a better life in a new land, a promised land and one free of taxes, set many merchants and the peasants from Flanders and Rhine Valley on their quest. So they came by foot, by cart, by horse. Traveled during daylight over green hills, slept under a canopy of stars and the vigil watch of men, and of prayer. Left a known life, a lesser life, for the unknown. All for the sake of a promise made by King Geza II of Hungary.

…Although, the word of mouth would have worked during Medieval Europe as it dose today. The Teutonic Knights, first in these woods of Transylvania, would have let other know of its incredible rich soil…

Same gate, day and night – although it is open at night time. You can see there’s an inner yard:

During their travel, had the Saxons (how they were known later) spent sleepless nights, clawed by apprehension? By second thoughts? Had they set foot forward hunched under the mantle of unease? Some whisper, and with good cause, that this massive migration taking place in waves has left its mark not only on the history of Europe, but on its folklore and literature too and is remembered today as the story of Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Countless other incredible legends were born around Sibiu and I wrote about a few in my latest book, Dreamland: The Giants from Cristian, Legendary First Saxons of Transylvania, Towering at Carta Mnastery, A White Lie on the Lie Bridge, Vein Victims of Transylvania’s Tallest Tower:

By the sweet springs of Cibin the settlers stopped. The forests here had good game (which they could hunt, as king’s guests), and water of aplenty. The air was cooler, sweeter too. And there were lush pastures for their cattle, enough wood for shelter, and no sounds penetrated the curtain of trees. None other but the snorting of their horses and the cry of a babe. It was peaceful. It was sunny. They’d come home, after more than one month of traveling, of living a nomad life that wasn’t theirs. Now, they could set the foundation for the life they wanted, like the one they’ve been accustomed with, but better – especially for the generations to follow.

The craftsmen set building on the shores of a lake, near Cibin River, by Cibin, wooden homes with small holdings, and a wooden chapel (a rotonda with a crypt) worthy of their times, the 1150s. A street soon emerged, dotted with workshops, a lime kiln, and the market.

Below: Huet Square, day/night, buildings side by side, near the place where the first rotonda church once stood. Notice in the day picture, on the ground level of the yellow building (14th century) a narrow passage: the Shoemakers’ Passage (Schusterloch) leading to the Small Square.

The beginning of Sibiu (first known as Cibin) happened where Huet Square is found today, as well as the adjoining Goldsmiths’ Square, Piata Aurarilor, Silvermiths’ Street, and Târgului Street, The Fair Street – quite fitting, isn’t it? in what is today known as Lower City.

It would have looked like this:

By 1191 the head of Sibiu’s clergy is already recognized by Pope Celestin III and this document is the oldest known to certify Sibiu.

Hermannsdorf (villa Hermanni) emerged soon after, the Village of Hermann and, yes, it comes with a legend.

Soon the village receives the Andreanum Diploma (1224) from King Andrew II of Hungary (Transylvania was part of the Hungarian Kingdom then) and this recognizes more economical, political and religious privileges for the Saxons of Sibiu. The Saxons could freely own the land from Orăştie la Drăuşeni (known as fundus regius, Königsboden, royal ground, they were all equal (remember, it was still Feudal Era in the rest of Europe), they were free to choose their political and religious rulers (this meant bypassing the power of the Voievode of Transylvania), free to trade within the Hungarian Kingdom without paying border taxes (one collective yearly tax was to be paid on St Martin’s day, 11 November, only), and could apply their own justice, “ius gladii”, the right of the sword, to have their own judge and apply the capital punishment.

But there was a catch, the Saxons had to provide troops for the King’s army, to defend the crown, ad retinendam coronam, which was mentioned on Sibiu’s medieval seal too.

Samuel von Brukenthal National College in Huet Square, the building below dating from 18th century, the school first mentioned in 1380, is the oldest German-speaking school in Romania:

And 90 minutes later, at 6pm:

In 1321 Sibiu is mentioned as Hermannsdorf (the Village of Hermann) in documents and a few decades later as Hermannstadt (the City of Hermann).

But before the 14th century Sibiu had to survive the great Mongol Invasion of 1241, and this meant more changes…

One more look at Huet Squre from the schoolyard of Brukenthal Highschool, the statuary Evangelic Church (which we’ll visit next time) on the left:

For Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors weekly challenge – go see some great doors, worldwide.

More to come – so subscribe no my newsletter or follow the blog and never miss a story:

Houses, doors, and a STORY on Târgului Street Sibiu – and a dog!
The whimsical Piata Aurarilor, Goldsmiths Square Sibiu, and the STORY of a Mongol Invasion
The Legend of Clever Hermann, How Sibiu Got its Name.
Going through the Shoemakers’ Passage (between Huet and Small Squares) – with VIDEO
The Medieval and Legendary Small Square of Sibiu by Night & Day!
Staring at Whimsical Casa Calfelor (The Apprentices’ House) in Huet Square
Climbing the Tower of the Evangelical Church to the Top, and peeking into its four turrets – with video
Up the stone spiral staircase of the Evangelical Church – with video
More Secret Passages in the middle of Sibiu – Lost in Time
Having a Peak Under the Evangelic Church
A Shakespearean Murder – Mihnea the Bad (cel Rău), Vlad the Impaler’s Son
Over and Under the Bridge of Lies, it’s Sibiu!
Bending Low to Climb the Council Tower
The Pharmacy Museum, First and Oldest in Romania
A 13th Century AND a First Hospital
More to come – so subscribe no my newsletter or follow the blog and never miss a story:

Houses, doors, and a STORY on Târgului Street Sibiu – and a dog!
The whimsical Piata Aurarilor, Goldsmiths Square Sibiu, and the STORY of a Mongol Invasion
The Legend of Clever Hermann.
Going through the Shoemakers’ Passage (between Huet and Small Squares) – with VIDEO
The Medieval and Legendary Small Square of Sibiu by Night & Day!
Staring at Whimsical Casa Calfelor (The Apprentices’ House) in Huet Square
Climbing the Tower of the Evangelical Church to the Top, and peeking into its four turrets
More Secret Passages in the middle of Sibiu – Lost in Time
Having a Peak Under the Evangelic Church
A Shakespearean Murder – Mihnea the Bad (cel Rău), Vlad the Impaler’s Son
Over and Under the Bridge of Lies, it’s Sibiu!
Bending Low to Climb the Council Tower
The Pharmacy Museum, First and Oldest in Romania
A 13th Century AND a First Hospital